Improvement in machinery for cutting veneers



end elevation.

Vring holder.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRISON PARKER AND JONATHAN O. SLEEPER, OF BOSTON, MASSA- OHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING VENEERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,778, dated .July l, 1562.

T0 all whom it 17mg/ concern.'

Beit known that we, HAREIsoIv PARKER and JONATHAN O. SLEEPER, both of Boston, inthe county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements on a Machine for Cutting Veneers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a partof this speciiication, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, in which Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is an Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken at the line m :t of the feed-Inotion and y y ofthe bed-plate in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken at the line z z in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the knife and/pressure-bar, full size, taken at the line x w in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a det-ached horizontal section of the ratchet, pinion, and rack. Fig. 7 is a detached side view of the ratchet and paWl-lever. Fig. Sis a detached front view of the ratchet and pawllever. Fig. 9 is a detached horizontal view of the ratchet and paWl-lever. Fig. 10 is a plan, and Fig. 11 isa section, of the dog X or in elinering holder. Fig. 12 is a side view of one of the incline rings. Fig. 13-is a plan, and Fig. li is a section, of the dog Y or incline- Fig. l5 is a transverse section of the cam -lever and a portion of the cam, showing the manner in which the slide-block y is attached to the cam-lever.

The blue diagonal lines represent sections, and similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed is particularly described in the following statement thereof-that is to say:

This invention has for its object new and useful improvements inmachinery for cutting veneers. For this purpose the log or block from which the veneers are to be cut is iirinly secured to a bed-plate by means of bolts which pass through the bed-plate and screw into the log or block. The bed-plate is perforated with holes at equal distances apart and a sufficient number of them to receivea requisite number of bolts to holdvthe block firmly. thereto. The bed-plate may be placed ina vertical, a horizontal, or-a diagonal position; but it is preferred to place it in a vertical position. The bed-plate, together with the block carried thereby, has a motion up and down a distance somewhat over and above the Width of the largest block to be cut, and this motion is by preference communicated to it by means of two cranks and two connecting-rods--one at each end of the bed-plate. The knife, when making the cut, is stationary, 'but is capable of being moved toward and from the bed-plate by the action of the feed-motion, which, by means of a double ratchet, causes it to recede immediately after the cut and again to move forward immediately before the cut a distance depending on the thickness of the veneer next to be cut. The knife consists of a straight cutting-edge with one side beveled off, and is rmly secured to a knife-block which is made to slide toward and from the bed-plate. A little before the edge of the knife there is a pressure-bar made adjustable by set-screws and bolted firmly in its required position to a 4 pressure beam, so as to give a very heavy pressure on the surface of the block immediately on the point or line of cut. The pressure-beam is also made adjustablebyset-screws, so that it may be set toward or from the edge of the knife, according to the amount of pressure required and the thickness ofthe veneer to be cut, and then held firmly to the knifeblock in its required position by means of bolts. The knife block is held firmly in its relative position to the bed-plate by means of powerful feed-screws, so that any amount of pressure required can be-given to the pressurebar.l In our experiments it has been found that, unless a very heavy pressure is given on f the surface of the block near or on the line of cut, the veneer is so crippled or cracked `in cutting that it is'unfit for use.

The main feature in our invention is the peculiar method of applying the pressure to the surface of theblock at or near the line of cut and of graduating the same to the different thicknesses of veneers, also the method of feeding the knifeand of graduating the feed to the different thicknesses of veneers to be cut. By this method we are enabled to cut veneers perfectly sound and free from cracks from any kind of wood and to any thickness required. y

Having thus explained the nature of our invention, we will proceed more fully to describe the manner of performing the same.

The frame is composedl of two side pieces, A A, and three girts, B B B, secured together in the usual'ruanner with bolts a" a". There is a vertical guide, C, formed on each ofthe side pieces, A A, projecting inwardly, and a bed-plate, D, is fitted to slide freely thereon. A cross-head, E, is bolted to the upper part of the bed-plate D with a wrought-iron crossbeam, F, secured thereto. This cross beam is longer than the bed-plate or cross-head, and extends out by the frame at each end with wrist-pins made thereon, to which the upper end of the connecting-rods G G are attached. The main shaft H is hung below the frame and fitted to revolve in boxes or hangers I Lwhich are bolted to the bottom of the frame A A. This shaft has a large gear-wheel, J, fixed on each end outside of the frame with a crankpin, K, set therein, to which the lower end ofV near each end outside of the frame, that `gear i into and drive thelargc gear-wheels J J.L This pinion-shaft L also has two driving-pulleys,

O O, fixed thereon, one on cach end of the shaft outside of the pinion.

A portion of the lower part of the sides of the frameA A projects out in front a distance sufficient to form a scat, P P, in a horizontal plane for the knife-block Q to rest and slide upon. The k ni fe-block Q extends across from one side of the frame to the other and has its bea-ring at each end on the seat 1? l?, to which it is fitted to slide toward and from the bedplate D. The knife a is secured to the knifeblock Q by screws b b, and made adjustable by a series of set screws, c. A portion of this knife on the side next to the log or block R, from the edge downward, is ground straight, or in a vertical plane, so that it may have a bearing against the wood a little below the edge of the knife, or, in other words, a continuous bearing from the edge a short distance downward.

Theknife-block Q at each end has au upf esmas D, and in that position is held firmly to the the cutting-edge of the knife is the most important thing to be obtained. Itis the peculiar shape of the pressurebar cZ directlyl in' front of the cut and the amount and manner of applying the pressure that enable us to Lcut veneers without cracking thel wood in process of cutting.

The shape and position of the pressure-bar (Z and knife t is clearly represented in Fig. 5, where they are drawn full size and in the act of cutting. lt is necessary to have a very heavy pressure directly on the line of out with a slight compression of the wood below the cut and gradually diminishing to nothing in order to cut the veneers without cracking them.

There are two horizontal feed-screws, U U, one at' each end of the knife-block Q, which are ciosely fitted withj ournals to revolve without any lateral motion in boxes V V, firmly attached to the outside of the frame A A. The feed-screws U U are made square-threaded and are fitted to work in corresponding screwnuts g g, which are held in nut-boxes W W, firmly attached to the end of the knife-block Q. These nuts g g are made in halves and provided with set screws c` c' c c c c' above and below to adjust them and prevent any play in case of wear, and also with set-screws d' d at the front end to prevent any lateral motion. Each of the feed screws U has a bevel-gear, h, fixed on the rear end,whicl1 takes into corresponding gears, t' z', fixed on a horizontal feed-shaft, y, running across the machine" back of the bed-plate D. This feedshaftj is made to revolve in boxes 7c lr, attached to the frame A A, and when set in motion the bevel-gears t z' thereon mesh into and turn the bevel-gears hl h, together with the feed-screws U U, thereby giving a uniform feed to both ends of the knife-block Q.

There is a fixed cam, Z, on the main shaft H inside ofthe frame A, and by the side of this cam Z there is a cam-lever, Z, hung at one end for its fulcrum m in the fore part of the frame A. This cam-lever Z has a roller, n, attached to one side near the center of its length,which is fitted to work in a cam-shaped groove, 0, cut in the side ofthe cam Z. This groove o is made in a suitable form to give the required up-anddown motion at intervals to the camlever Z. On the rearend of the cam-lever Z, back of the roller n, there is a slide-block, p, fitted to slide toward and from the roller n, for the purpose of adjusting the effective throw of the cam lever Z. This slide-block p is moved back and forth by means of a screw, q, with a hand-wheel, r, thereon, by which it is turned, and when the slide-block p is properly adjusted it may be more firmly secured in its rcquired position by set-screws s s. There is a connecting-rod, t, attached to the slide-block 19, and,extending upward, takes hold of the lower end of a vertical rack, u. This rack u is held in its position by a stand, c, attached to the frame A and allowed to slide up and down therein. This Vrack u is also provided with teeth which mesh into corresponding teeth in a loose pinion, w, on the feed-shaftj. The pinion w is fitted to revolve loosely on the feedshaftj, and it has a huh, e', extending out on one side, on which a pawllever, f,'is permanently iixed. The pawlleverf is provided with two pawls, g' g, which throw in opposite directions, and a thumb-screw, h', to lil'tthe pawls gg. This thumbscrew h is set in the upper part ofthe pawl-leverf, with its lower end resting upon a lip, i', projecting from the inside ofthe hub of each pawl g. These pawls g g are made to swingen studs o o', set in the awlvlevcr and are held down bya s ring, P l) j, pressing the outer end of the pawls g'g', and each pawl g has a friction-roller, s, attached to one side near the outer end. A hub,

Zr', is fixed on the feed-shaft j directly under the pawls g g', and on this hub Za are two steel ratchet-rings, Z Z', with teeth or notches cutin theirperiphery in opposite directions, forniing a double ratchet to throw both right and left. Each ratchet-ring Z is supplied with an incline ring, m', which is fitted to turn loosely on the hub k directly under the friction-roller s, and is capable of being set in different positions. Each of the incline rings m has a series of holes made through it equidistant from its center, and is held in any required position by means of dogs X and Y, each 0f which has a pin, n', fitted to enter one of" the holes made in the incline ring m. These incline rings m m are intendedgto lift the pawls g g' (by means of the frictionrollers s s', attached thereto) from the ratchets Z Z, thereby limiting each pawl g independently to operate on any number of teeth required. In Fig. 6 the dog Y- is attached to the stand o, with its pin n in one of the holes in the incline ringm. This pin n is held in its positionby a spiral spring, o", as represented in Fig. 14, and is capable of being pressed back at pleasure, so as to allow the incline ring m to be turned from one hole to another. The dog` X (represented in Figs. 10 and ll) is also to be attached to the stand o, and operates in a similar manner to dog Y, only the spring o throws inv an opposite direction. This dog is designed to hold the outside incline ring m', the operation of which will clearly be seen by referring to Fig. 1l. Thus, by pulling upon theknob p', the pin n is with drawn from. one hole and the incline ring readily turned to allow it to drop into anot-her. A

By referring to Fig: 8, and supposing the pawl-lever j" to be swinging to t-he right, the friction-roller sis just on the point of rolling up on the incl-ine to the higher part of the incline ring m', and is then allowed to travel thereon a short distance, holding the pawl g up from the ratchet Z', and on the return motion of the pawl-lever f the pawl g again drops onto the ratchet Z and turns it until the motion of the pawl-lever f is again reversed. By this arrangement it will be seen that the incline rings in m can readily be set so as to allow4 the pawls g'g independently to turn the ratchet Z any number of teeth required. The office of this arrangement is to feed both ways. For instance, the incline rings can be set so that the ratchet will turn forward onethird ofa revolution and back one-quarter of a revolution, or inr any other proportion required.

The log or block R to be cut into veneers is firmly secured to the bedplate D by means of bolts u u', which pass through holes made in the bed-plate D and screw into the block R.

Operat-ion: By attaching belts to the driving-pulleys O O and giving motion to the pin ion-shaft L the pinions N N will turn the large gearwheels J J, and by means of the connecting-rods G G the bed-plate D, with the block R attached thereto, will be made to slide up and down on the guides O C and cut a veneer from the block B at every revolution of the large gear-wheels J J. In Fig. 3 the bedplate D is up and the knife a is in the proper position to commence cutting. During` that portion ofthe downward motion of the bedplate D while the cut is being performed the roller n rolls on the smallest part of' the cam Z, which is on a true circle from its center, thereby allowing the cam-lever. Z to remain at rest in its lowest position during the whole time the cut is bein-gV performed. In1mediately after the cut is completed, and while the cranlcpins K K are passing under the center, the cam-leverl rises to its highest position, forcing the rack u upward with it, which causes the piuion'w to turn, together with the pawl-lever f, and by the action of the pawl g on the ratchet Z the feed-shaft j, togethe with the feed-screws U U, are made to turn, which causes the knifeblock Q to recede a sufficient distance t0 allow the log or block R to pass up without touching the edge of the knife a. During that portion ofthe upward motion of the bed-plate D while the log or block R is passing the knife ct the roller n rolls on the largest part of the cam Z, which is on a true circle from its center, thereby allowing the cam-lever Z to remain at rest in its highest position during the whole time the log or block R is passing the knife a; and immediately after the log R passes the knife a, and while the crank-pinsKK are passing over the center, the cam-lever Z, together with the rack u,drops to its lowest position again, thereby caus ing the knife-block Q to be fed forward a distance depending on the thickness of the veneer next to be cut in addition to the back motion before given. By this arrangement for a feed-motion, wood can be cut to any thickness required, from the very thinnest veneer up to. three sixteenths of an inch lin thickness,

or even thicker, if desirable. The use of the slide-block p is to vary the distance of motion given to the rack u. For instance, ifby changing the ratchet one tooth should be found to be too great-a change, the slide-block p canv be set so as to take any part of a tooth, even the hundredth part, if required, thereby graduating the thickness of veneers to any point of nicety required. llhis slide-block p can also be used to change the distance of motion required to be given to the rackufrom thick venecrs to thin, and from thin to thick. Vhen the log or block R is entirely cut up into veneers, the thumbscrcw 7i isto be turned so as to press down upon the lips z" z" and raise the pawls g g up, so that the ratchet Z may be made to revolve freely in either direction. The k nite-block Q may then be run back by at taching a belt to the pnllcy b on the feedshaft j, 01 by any other practical device.

Having thus given a full description of the nature, construction, and operation of our invention, wewill now proceed to point out the parts which we claim.

l. The pressure-bar d, adjusted as herein described, in combination with the feedscrews U U,` for holding the pressure when used for cutting veneers, operated by the mechanism in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The double ratchet constructed and operated as herein described, for the purpose specied.

3. The cam-lever Z, in combination with the adjustable slideblock p thereon, substantially in the'manner and for the purpose herein described.

4. The combined arrangement herein speci fied for giving a back and forward self-feeding movement to the knife, whereby the knife recedes from the block or wood for the return motion, and is again fed forward for the cut,- substantially as herein described.

HARRISON PARKER. JONATHAN C. SLEEPER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. W. HAWKEs, B. F. W. FoLsoM. f 

